Pre-match: US v Turkey, June 7 2025 (Friendly)

So all non-injured players have to be released for the June window. Players also have to be released for the GC, as the designated summer confederation competition for our team, unless their team is playing in the CWC. I think there probably is a cap on the number of players you can compel teams to release but I’m not sure how strict it is.

 

Big Pat has 3 goals in 180' for the National Team. All minutes came this year. But both players should go. Then pick one of Sargent, Wright, or Balogun to round out the roster.

 

Just depends.

Does Poch want to get more of a look at the guys he hasn't worked with as much in the extended Gold Cup setting?

Or does he go with the guys from MLS like Agyemang and Wright that he's become more familiar with?

I dunno.........................

None of any of these guys has WON a spot on the roster. So we're kind of the blind leading the blind.

From my own perspective, I'll say this: I'll argue that Balogun was our best player at the 2024 Copa America. Scored in our first games. Great goal against Panama that kept us in it. If he's healthy, I want Poch evaluating him. Due to the shoulder injury, he's never even been in a camp. We're at the point that Folarin hasn't played a game for the USMNT since the New Zealand game last September.

Poch has barely worked with Haji Wright. Never started him. Late sub in the first camp last fall.

 

The Gold Cup is also mandated releases (except for the Club World Cup guys) and on the international calendar. No call ups can be denied but MLS teams can ask the USMNT to do them a solid (which they sometimes do given we want MLS teams to release guys other times they don’t have to).

 

Wright also may be on the roster as a winger and we’ll take all three of Balogun, Sargent, and White on a 26 man roster.

 

For the Gold Cup though you’d definitely be able to mandate the 26 for the roster.

For the camp there’s probably a limit but given European seasons are over and there’s not a lot of MLS games during that period I don’t think you have much pushback. But also you aren’t going to go much higher than 26 anyways.

 

Big Pat is not at the level, this castigation of the current group and glazing of the MLS guys, the pendulum is swinging too far.

Lina is a must start, White and Seb are must calls and that’s it. How can you watch Big Pat and think he’s anywhere near ready?

 

production > optics

 

We're the blind leading the bling on the discussion.

Would I be surprised if Agyemang and White are on the roster? No.
Would I be surprised if Agyemang and White are left off the roster? No.

All i know is that both have scored for the USMNT this year.
For whatever reason (that none of us can really figure out)...............Josh Sargent doesn't.

At some point we have to stop talking about how Josh hasn't gotten chances. He's now at 28 caps. He's been in the program so long that his debut came under Dave Sarachan. At some point, we have enough data. I don't know why he doesn't score with the national team. But at some point it doesn't matter.......................and we have to shake things up.

 

This isn’t PlayStation.

You take the guys who make plays. Period.

 

Well, at least the provisional roster for the Gold Cup needs to be in 30 days before the first game.
So the provisional rosters will presumably be announced in a week or so. The first game is June 14th. Our first clarity with some guys on the fringes will be known then.

The players for the Turkey/Switzerland friendlies don't have to come from that list, but its highly likely. Why prepare for the Gold Cup with guys not in contention for the roster?

 

Does anyone have any idea when a roster will be released?

 

(Assuming that you aren't talking about the couple of guys who are first team regulars that will be with their clubs in the CWC. The importance of playing as many games to try to figure out the optimal mix, and their place in it--or not, but I doubt that it should come to that--is obvious.)

 

From what we've heard, they're trying to go with much of the "A" group that's available.
Doesn't mean there won't be changes from the Nations League.

The provisional roster probably won't tell us a lot other than a couple of the fringe guys that won't make it. And if fringe players aren't on the provisional roster, it doesn't mean they're excommunicated for life.

 

At least 10 days in advance of June 14 for the Gold Cup but we’ll probably see a camp roster before that.

 

I suspect that's going to be an 0 for 5:

It should be noted that there's a FIFA website now of guys that have filed for one-time switches. At some point soon, these guys will definitely be out. Cuz Koleosho, Chase, and Brown would all have to do that. They haven't done so according to that site.
FIFA Change of Association Platform

I'm pretty sure Chase would be out of the question even if he did commit.
He's been out for months after suffering a torn adductor.

If you asked me which is the most likely, I'd say Downs.
But with Balogun coming back and Brian White on fire.............who knows?
Downs, for a myriad of reasons, has scored one goal in three months in Bund2.

Banks has barely played in three months. I suspect he'll be with the U20s as they prepare for the World Cup.

Koleosho has barely played in 2025.
If we want to talk about the most unexpectedly disappointing seasons amongst the players we talk about, Koleosho must be near the top of the list. 2 goals and 0 assists in the English Championship isn't going to pique Poch's interest. Brenden Aaronson outperformed him by a mile in the same league, and didn't get into the Nations League roster. What exactly is it about Koleosho that makes people think he's better than an MLS option? I honestly don't know. There's very little actual production to his name.

All signs point to Brown being with Germany this summer at the U21 UEFA championships. I don't think now is the time he will file a one-time switch.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'd be happy to include them. I just think we'll be 0 for 5.

 

I have never held out much hope for Luca, Brown or Chase.... I think Downs would accept a call up but I don't really think he has earned it. Banks is a different story. He seems like he is firmly in the US depth chart... and I would be shocked if he jumped ship. He might even be the captain for the US U20 side... and could possibly make the WC roster if all goes to plan.

 

It's the same for any dual - we worry we will wait too long and they will be great for someone else. Often we don't wait long enough to make a solid judgement but rush because of that fear of losing them. Most of the time we only get the players who would never get called up by the country they were born and raised in and then we're the consolation prize. MLS academies are spitting out enough of those type of talents now I don't worry about the duals much any more.

 

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On Monday, the region’s governing body is expected to publish 60-man preliminary rosters for each of the 16 participating countries.

Four days later, on May 22, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino will name his final 26-player squad.

 

Paxten vs. Gio
Zendejas vs. Musah

 

Don't consider Musah as a winger option, I see him in the mildfield and he hasn't played much the past month for Milan. Zendejas is the better wing option than him.